Event Celebrating Musical Expression and Democratic Values - The "Fanta Four" and Olli Schulz shift towards the right in Jamel's setting.
Kickstarting the "Jamel rocks the Förster" music fest with the Fantastic Four, the event got underway in the tiny Mecklenburg village of Jamel. "Thanks to the Lohmeyer family for spreading love in challenging times," praised rapper Michi Beck to a thunderous audience reaction.
This year's edition of the festival, spearheaded by Birgit and Horst Lohmeyer since 2007, holds a significant role amid the elections in Saxony and Thuringia. The village of Jamel, home to less than 40 residents, has been a stronghold of right-wing extremist groups since the 90s. According to the festival's website, it was strategically settled as a "model national socialist village" by neo-Nazis.
Fantastic Four: Emphasizing Individual Liberties
The Fantastic Four expressed their sentiments in a statement, stating, "It's heartwarming to see an entire German region taking form based on right-wing extremist ideologies. This performance in Jamel holds great political significance. It's about preserving principal individual liberties that seem to be in danger. You can clearly see that in Jamel."
Veteran musicians such as Herbert Grönemeyer and Die Toten Hosen, who have championed diversity and tolerance in past events, have graced the stages of previous festivals. This year, the tiny alternative event swiftly sold out within 30 minutes, boasting a diverse and eclectic lineup.
Olli Schulz for a Hate-Free Existence
Before the Fantastic Four's set, Chemnitz pop group Tränen and Hamburg singer-songwriter Olli Schulz performed, leaving the 3,500 attendees spellbound. Schulz, at 50, called out to the younger generations, "I hope the kids from those who are present here today are listening to us too, because life doesn't have to be filled with hate."
The festival organizers intend to send a message against xenophobia once more. "Looking at those thousand beaming faces in the crowd, breathtaking musical acts performing on both stages, and not even the morning rain could dampen the spirits, this festival can't get any better," exclaimed Birgit Lohmeyer. The two-day event was officially opened by Interior Minister Christian Pegel.
Despite the festival's challenging location in a village known for its right-wing extremist history, the Music fest featured diverse acts advocating for individual liberties and promoting harmony, such as the Fantastic Four's powerful performance. The eclectic lineup, including Olli Schulz's message of a hate-free existence, attracted a large crowd, demonstrating music's unifying power.
